Scholarships for DACA Students: A Comprehensive Guide
For undocumented students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, financing a college education can seem like an insurmountable challenge. This article provides a comprehensive overview of scholarship opportunities available to DACA students, helping them navigate the complex landscape of financial aid and achieve their academic aspirations. Undocumented students are not eligible to receive federal or state financial aid. However, there are other options to finance your education.
Understanding DACA and Eligibility
DACA scholarships are specifically designed for undocumented students who entered the United States before the age of 16 and have received “deferred action status.” These students, often referred to as DREAMers, are not eligible for federal financial aid and face significant barriers to accessing state-based aid. Several scholarships may help undocumented students pursue a degree program within their state.
Navigating the Financial Aid Landscape
If you’re an undocumented or DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) student, you might be trying to figure out how to cover the costs of college. While educational costs can be daunting, you may qualify for assistance from your state, college, or a private organization. Depending on where you live, you may have access to local and state-level financial aid for DACA students. In some cases, applying for state assistance will mean filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. As a DACA student, you may face challenges finding financial assistance for college or university. If you can get a Social Security number, though, it’s still worth submitting the FAFSA to qualify for state-based financial aid. It may be possible to get an SSN as a DACA student. You can get information about applying for one at SSA.gov.
Start Early and Seek Help
Start Early! - You will have to do extra work to find money for college. Start early, and ask for help when you need it. Contact the financial aid offices of the schools you are interested in applying. Ask if there are any institutional aid available regardless of immigration status.
Check for Deadlines
Check for Deadlines! - Many financial aid opportunities have deadlines, make sure that once you have identified the scholarships you want to apply for that you have a calendar listing deadlines.
Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide
Know Your Community
Know your community! There may be local funding opportunities to finance your education.
Questions to Ask When Researching Colleges
When researching colleges: Is there a point person that you can contact who focuses on undocumented student access to the institution? When completing applications: Does the application ask for a social security number? Can an alternative number be used for students who do not have a social security number? When considering majors: does the major require a background check? Is state licensure or certification feasible for undocumented students?
Featured Scholarship Programs
There are several options for scholarships and grants for DACA students. Each has its own eligibility criteria. Make sure to read the requirements carefully so you know which ones you can apply for.
TheDream.US Scholarships
The DREAM.US offers two scholarships: National Scholarships and Opportunity Scholarships. TheDream.US scholarships are for highly motivated undocumented students with or without DACA or TPS who want to get a college education but are unable to afford the cost. They have no access to federal aid, limited access to state aid, and they sometimes face paying out-of-state tuition.
TheDream.US National Scholarship
TheDream.US National Scholarship awards up to $14,500 for an associate’s degree and $29,000 for bachelor’s degree. Eligible students must be a high school, GED graduate or community college graduate. You must have a DACA or TPS status or meet other immigration criteria. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2020, and qualify for in-state tuition at one of our Partner Colleges to receive this scholarship. We also offer private and online college options. TheDream.US National Scholarship - Considered to be the Pell Grant for DACA students, this scholarship is aimed at high school and community college students who have financial need.
Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships
TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship
Another one is TheDream.US Opportunity Scholarship is for DREAMers who live in states where they have no access to college. They may pay out of state tuition or their state will not admit them into its universities. The award will pay up to $80,000 for a bachelor’s degree. You must have a DACA or TPS status or meet other immigration criteria. You must also be admitted to an approved Partner College. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2020, and be admitted to one of our Opportunity Partner Colleges to receive this scholarship.
MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship
- We have created this scholarship specifically for international and DACA students. and Canadian citizens wishing to study in Canada are not eligible for this scholarship. * In recognition of the extraordinary potential of these students, we’ve created the MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship. We’ve intentionally designed this scholarship program to be as broad as possible to match the broad, diverse experiences of international students. There’s no requirement to be an MPOWER borrower to apply!
Ascend Educational Fund
Ascend Educational Fund - This fund provides scholarship awards between US$2,500 and US$20,000.
Questbridge National Match Scholarship
Questbridge National Match Scholarship - This full four-year scholarship is worth over US$200,000. The Pell Grant is a federal grant that is awarded to students with exceptional financial need who have not yet earned a degree.
Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund aids people active in movements for social and economic justice. These need-based scholarships are awarded to students who are able to do academic work at the college or university level or are enrolled in a trade or technical program and who are active in the progressive movement.
DR. JUAN ANDRADE JR. Scholarship
DR. JUAN ANDRADE JR. territories, and demonstrate a verifiable need for financial support. At least one parent must be of Hispanic ancestry. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on qualities traditionally valued and demonstrated by the immigrant community: hard work, resourcefulness, perseverance in the face of adversity, academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to one’s community. Open to High school seniors in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington D.C. with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA who have enrolled or plans to enroll in an accredited postsecondary college program the following fall.
Read also: Scholarship Guide
CCNY's Macaulay Honors College Scholarship
CCNY's Macaulay Honors College provides a full-tuition scholarship, a laptop, and a stipend for students who meet CUNY's New York State residency requirements. If you have an outstanding academic record you should consider applying to the Honors College. The scholarship funds 8 semesters of full-time undergraduate tuition within a student's four years of study. Tuition coverage is also available for a limited number of summer and winter classes, excluding fees. The summer before a student's first year starts is not eligible for coverage.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Students with DACA are also eligible for the Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, Hispanic Scholarships Fund, and Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Privately funded scholarships at CUNY are available to students regardless of immigration status in accordance to the CUNY 2018 Memo by the Office of General Counsel. To access privately funded scholarships, students may need to ask their respective Department(s) for scholarship or fellowship opportunities.
The Dreamer Graduate Loan Program
The application for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed. Working with Social Finance, a national non-profit organization, TheDream.US provided guidance in the creation of a graduate school loan program for undocumented graduate students with DACA or TPS who want to pursue a graduate degree. This student-centric loan program is designed to provide financial and educational support, ensuring Dreamers attending graduate degree programs only take on manageable debt to achieve their career aspirations.
Important Disclaimer
Important Disclaimer: The Dreamers Graduate Loan Program is neither managed nor guaranteed by TheDream.US. Scholars who are approved for and take out a loan through the Dreamers Graduate Loan Program are solely responsible for the repayment of the loan.
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